Soil Characteristics

Approximately 100 different soils are found in the ACE Basin. Five factors
important in the formation of soils include the parent material, organisms,
climate, relief or landscape position, and time (Jenny 1941). Oceans and
rivers deposited most of the parent materials of soils in the ACE Basin.
Additionally, parent materials formed from the calcareous remains of marine
organisms produce sediments with near neutral to alkaline pH. In the ACE
Basin, dwarf palmetto (Sabal minor) is a well-known indicator of
calcareous sediments since this species requires neutral to alkaline soil
pH. In the ACE Basin, wetland soils have a high organic content because
anaerobic soil bacteria decompose matter less efficiently than aerobic
bacteria.

The climate in the ACE Basin is conducive to relatively rapid rates of
soil formation. Local relief is the environmental factor that has the
greatest effect on soils of the ACE Basin study area. Changes in elevation
of only a few feet produce major changes in soil properties. Soils formed
in the ACE Basin are relatively young and the main types of soil landscapes
are dune ridge and trough, flood plain/salt marsh, high sandy ridges,
and low relief uplands. Understanding soil characteristics of the ACE
Basin is important for determining the land use capabilities of each soil
type. Each county that comprises the ACE Basin study area has its own
soil survey that is available to all interested parties.